TampaBay.com: President Barack Obama’s campaign last week announced that more than 1 million people had contributed to his re-election effort, a milestone that it said was well ahead of four years ago.

All told, the campaign has raised more than $90 million (not including what he has raised for the Democratic Party) and officials stress the number of grass roots, low-dollar donors, noting that the average donation is less than $60.

…. Florida bundlers have raised at least $4.5 million for the Obama campaign directly and for the Democratic National Committee….

“Basically since we announced the re-election campaign in April, we’ve gotten the old band back together, along with some new players who helped out a little four years ago and want to do more, or new people who want to get involved,” said Florida finance chairman Kirk Wagar, a lawyer in Coconut Grove.

…. “They’re saying, ‘I’m getting sick and tired of listening to the tea party when this president has done what he said he was going to do, and he’s done a lot,’ ” Wagar said.

Unlike the Republican presidential contenders, who have raised more than $80 million, Obama’s campaign releases the names of its top bundlers and ranges of what each brought in.

Alan Colmes: After the Washington Post story that Florida Senator Marco Rubio had some facts wrong in his retelling of his family’s history, he has updated his Senate web page biography.

“Rubio frequently repeated a compelling version of his family’s history that had special resonance in South Florida. He was the “son of exiles,” he told audiences, Cuban Americans forced off their beloved island after “a thug,” Fidel Castro, took power.

But a review of documents reveals that the Florida Republican’s account embellishes the facts. The documents show that Rubio’s parents came to the United States and were admitted for permanent residence more than two-and-a-half years before Castro’s forces overthrew the Cuban government and took power on New Year’s Day 1959.”

You people are beyond great – thank you so much for helping reach the target (link), appreciate it endlessly.

****

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on ‘Meet the Press’:

“Let me begin by saying that President Obama has passed with flying colors every leadership challenge. I mean, look at what he has done. I mean, just to name a few things …. we were looking for bin Laden for 10 years. It was under President Obama’s leadership that he was finally eliminated.

“Libya … with the kind of smart leadership that the president showed, demonstrating that American leadership was essential, but it was important to try to bring others into a coalition of efforts. And the objective was achieved keeping the promise to withdraw from Iraq, but not leave Iraq – by having a robust security and training mission accompanied by a very large diplomatic presence. I could go on and on. I think this president has demonstrated that …. it’s important to have someone at the helm of our country who understands how to manage what is an incredibly complex world now.”

“Yes, we have a lot of threats, but we also have opportunities. And I think President Obama has grasped that and has performed extraordinarily well. I think Americans are going to want to know that they have a steady, experienced, smart hand on the tiller of the ship of state, and there’s no doubt that that’s Barack Obama.”

“On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Libya on today’s historic declaration of liberation. After four decades of brutal dictatorship and eight months of deadly conflict, the Libyan people can now celebrate their freedom and the beginning of a new era of promise.

Now that the fighting in Libya has reached an end, the Transitional National Council (TNC) must turn its attention to the political transition ahead. We look forward to working with the TNC and an empowered transitional government as they prepare for the country’s first free and fair elections.

The Libyan authorities should also continue living up to their commitments to respect human rights, begin a national reconciliation process, secure weapons and dangerous materials, and bring together armed groups under a unified civilian leadership. As they take these steps, the United States will continue our close cooperation with our international partners and the UN Support Mission in Libya to help advance a stable, democratic transition.”

****

People wait in line outside a polling station in Tunis. President Barack Obama congratulated Tunisians Sunday on casting ballots in their country’s first election since the revolt that started the Arab Spring, calling it “an important step forward.”

This link “Not To Hire A Single Person” should be tweeted to every member of congress, every reporter and every cable and news station in the country.

Mitch McConnell had the nerve to stand in the well of the senate and slam President Obama for the state of the economy. The president he wants to ensure only has one term. We are not dealing with a credible opposition party. But the media continues to carry water for them. The media is afraid to do a side by side comparison of the American Jobs Act and the Republican because the GOP will look pathetic.

Mitch McConnell Unloads On President Obama Over Jobs Bill (AUDIO)

Spend enough time around Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and you’ll learn a few things about him. He’s the most disciplined GOP leader on the Hill, and one of its savviest. His devious parliamentary tactics have been a cornerstone of the GOP strategy to thwart the Democratic agenda, of which he was the key architect.

But he rarely loses his cool.

That’s why his acid-tongued attack on President Obama Tuesday came as such a surprise — and, perhaps, an indication that Obama’s campaign against the GOP for blocking his jobs bill is working.

Here’s the audio, from McConnell’s weekly Capitol briefing with reporters.

No thanks Ladyhawke, for me I can barely stand to look at the sorry SOB, must less listen to him. I believe the reason why some of these companies are sitting on two trillion dollars and not hiring is because they want to help the Republicans by keeping the unemployment numbers high. And we know that is why the Republicans in the Senate or House won’t pass the President jobs bill, because it’s all about 2012, they don’t give a dam about the middle class or poor.

Why any Republican in Congress would be stupid enough to tie his or her political fortunes to whether or not one of their candidates becomes President is one of the dumbest things I’ve heard in a long time. McConnell is all but guaranteeing Republicans get wiped out.

I could have made a million dollars years ago by selling him a bridge anywhere in the world.

Has the OWS group issued any ultimatums? You know, like we’re going to broadcast the names of all businesses that comply with the tea farts, or we’re going to occupy the state offices of obstructionist congresscritters, or we’re coming to Washington to grace their halls? How can they do that if they hate government and support a government-hating racist obstructionist like Ron Paul? How can they do that if they agree with the cynics that both sides are too corrupt to have any dealings with? Are they ready to galvanize themselves into a body powerful enough to effect change or are they generating a romantic relationship with the unproductive, high salaried megaphonies for mutual exposure, i.e., Wow, Cenk’s gonna put us on the air, let him come down and tout his show while doing so.

Sumthin’ ain’t right. For now, I’ll buy naive. Sorry if I ramble-on like I’m on drugs.

Loved reading that. Those tea bag congress critters are going to be one-termers. I believe Dems will re-take the House, hold the Senate and of course Pres Obama will be re-elected. Americans are watching in horror as Repubs work to destroy the country.

On top of the fundraising is the fact that the Dems have been very active recruiting good candidates to run in 60 races. When the Politico article says nobody expects the Dems to recapture the House, it means the recruitment and excitement is going on under the radar. I love when that happens. Arrogant assumptions about the ignorance of Americans almost makes the inevitable Karma sweeter.

Hey Jackie. On your twitter timeline, whenever you tweet there’s a symbol below the tweetbox that looks like a navigation tool. It’s called a time stamp. If you click on that, it’ll provide you a link to your tweet. If you copy the link and come here and paste it, when you post your comment, the tweet will come out looking like amk’s. Hope this helps. If it doesn’t just ask again and I’ll walk you through it. 🙂

w00t! All yez gotta do is click on the date time stamp. it brings your tweet into a new box. you copy and paste the URL into the comment box here and when you press “post comment” Voila! Like magic it posts the image of your tweet!

ok plz allow me to push back a little bit. I like Chris and I don’t think he’s at the top of the EMOPROG list…what I like is that he is not an old white dude espousing liberal political points from 20 years ago. I respect the young people’s view and his show is simply …asking questions and exploring narratives and asking the non-believers to think.
Plus I like that he includes on his panel other young people (young to me = under 40).
If you compare this show to Meet The Press and David Gregory…it is a refreshing change of pace one which I endorse.

Hayes Same talking points= bought by Nader!
It is what it is, he is definitely NOT sn Obama supporter.
In the other hand, as recently as 2010 campaign, the President had 35k at University of Ohio and USC.
So, he in fact, has more support from the young kids then Chris Hayes is letting on.
Then, what is his agenda? He does Not like the President!

You could have fooled me. For example: the stimulus was to small- we should go higher. Is what he always says.
The argument is, the republicans are and have filibustered everything, that is all we could get.
Do they purposely forget?

I spoke with my twenty something son this week. I always benefit from his take on things. He is a voter and watches what he can of the issues, and right now I would say he is more typical of a person of his age group than not. He suggested that the President go full out on the inspirational messages he has always tried to promote from now until the campaign. My son admitted that he resonates with those ideas and he wants to feel like he is a part of something transformational and lasting. There were some very reasonable suggestions in what he followed up with saying that the President is articulating all the right things but not being dramatic enough to suit the very serious and dire choices we have as a country. Since I am not able to take a step back any longer and evaluate how the President is coming across to others, I listened carefully. My son also sent me an article on suggestions from a speech coach/actor on the mannerisms of effective speech givers and they were very doable without changing anything about the integrity and the authenticity of what the President is conveying to his countrymen. I sent the info up the food chain on the organizing front. For my part as an organizer, I am going to adopt the same mojo since I can be a surrogate. I feel so much passion for the issues, for our efforts and what this means to our common welfare that I am going to allow that emotion and conviction to show in its entirety. I can still be pragmatic and effective and positive but I won’t try to keep my love for what we have all undertaken a secret.

While I understand what your son is saying, at 20, he does not seem to understand the difference between governing and campaigning. The reason PBO’s speeches aren’t “inspirational” is that since getting into office they have been about policy, not an election. Other than that, the greatest orator of our time does not need advice on giving speeches from any one.

With all due respect to you and your son, Pres. Obama doesn’t need tips on giving speeches. Its one of the main reasons why people spend hours in line just to hear him talk for 20 minutes. I guarantee you that in the future there will be classes in schools dedicated to his oratory skills.

Can you pass this information on? I agree with your son. I also know that as an organizer I need to teach my volunteers how to message more effectively. We keep thinking that if we just present the “facts” people will make the right choice. We are so wrong. Your son is correct. Please connect us up with his sources.

If he is an Obama supporter he needs to bone up on the facts about this adminstration. Being young does not absolve him of fact-free reporting or of asking intellectually dishonest questions that illicit intellectually dishonest answers. His show is just a continuation of his appearances as a guest on Rachel’s show and as guest host on Rachel and Lawrence’s shows. He either feels he has to overcompensate because I’ve heard his wife works for the administration or he’s a follower and has to maintain “credibility” with his PL bosses and buddies. PBO does not need “supporters” like him.

I’m sorry aamom but I’m going to have to agree with Jovie on this and pushback on your pushback. Chris Hayes is smart, no doubt about it. Sometimes he asks intelligent questions. Other times he talks out of his ass just to hear himself speak. Sometimes his show is good. For example when he had Melissa Harris-Perry and Professor John McCotter on and he just let the PL and emoprog crap go and just spoke truth. Other times like this week’s saturday and sunday show make me want to spit nails because he brings guests from The Nation, other news outlets and David Sirota (Mr. PL Extraordinaire) and allows PL nonsense and crap to spew forth like the stench from a gutter. Saturday’s show was all about how PBO is like GWB. How PBO is basically Bushesque in his foreign policy style. He just let his guests go on and on about how PBO was wrong to just leave Iraq and not continue some form of nation building. How PBO is so unpopular in the Arab world (which is a categorical lie by the way). How PBO is undermining America’s standing in the world because of the increase in drone strikes. How we shouldn’t have enabled NATO with drones to hunt down Gaddafi in Libya. Are you freaking kidding me? I’m supposed to feel sorry for Gaddafi because U.S. drones hunted him down so that Libyans could capture him? I’m supposed to feel sorry for a merciless dictator who had a hand in the Pan Am terror plot and who was ready to head into Benghazi to slaughter 300,000 people?

Then sunday’s show he brings on Buddy Roehmer (GOP candidate running for President) who made his wealth through the oil industry and big business to talk about crony capitalism and OWS. Are you kidding me? He let Buddy Roehmer talk about how corrupt Wall Street and politicians are. How we need to get money out of elections. How he’s a representative of OWS and he stands with them. Buddy Roehmer only talks about getting money out of elections now because he’s flush with the tainted money he made from years and years of crony capitalism. To present Buddy Roehmer as the voice of the everyday man is not only disingenuous but shoddy journalism.

Sometimes Chris Hayes is good. Most times Chris Hayes is a nincompoop who just spouts PL nonsense about PBO on his show.

Pardon me for saying this, but Chris Hayes is no supporter of the President. He’s just another sanctimonious, holier-than-thou progressive who thinks he knows it all. He totally pissed me off this morning and I fired off many, many angry tweets. How in the world do you call yourself an Obama supporter, Democrat, progressive and allow that republican Daily Caller schmuck and nut job Buddy Roehmer lie on the president? My blood is still boiling from watching that hatefest.

I can barely type this I’m so angry. The woman from the SEIU was the only one who spoke the truth and made sense. Sen. Blumenthal was weak as hell and came across as a cowardly blue dog.

These folks know the truth. the President can only pass what he has the votes for. And even with all the obstruction managed to pass legislation that is historic and will make a real difference in this country.

Roehmer being heralded as an “independent voice” while running as a republican is just laughable. He was a banker. Bet if we check his books it wouldn’t be pretty.

I did not like Hayes’ show in the beginning, but decided to keep trying. Well, I’ve had enough.

I concur with Sue and others on this point. Please do not take offense. So much of the beautiful success of this site that Chipsticks has brought to us is based on total respect for each other and their views. As long as we remain true to respect, factual statements, and listen with fine tuned ears, we all can exchange opinions, ideas, and respectful conversations.

These are the ingredients that make our family here so beautiful each day. So please be not be offended, and we all will try so hard to respect each other. I always say, “What can I take from the conversation as a learning moment for me” in order to continue to be fired up for our President ,and most of all get him re-elected to move his agenda for all of us to a better place.

We will be fine as long as we keep our hearts and minds directed by our beautiful North Star, for sure. Everyone have a wonderful day today. I love you all back so much.HZ

Well, we must agree, that to disagree, Is agreed upon. Let’s not Sweat the small stuff. We all have Opinions and some are different, however, we must still respect each other. I don’t think we should gather our marbles and go home, just because of a disagreement. To each his own, so let’s still be Friends 🙂

ok fine. I will never ever mention Cable News ever. but I suspect many more ole folks like me watch the news during the day like I do and prefer their channels. Me MSNBC is #1 despite alllll the flaws. I cannot bear Fox and CNN is sickening.

huh? People here talk about cable news all the time. You watching and talking about it is not a problem with me or anyone else. I’m just saying since we don’t give a pass to other cable news hosts when they sit like a lump and don’t push back on their guests, then Hayes shouldn’t either.

I watched him for the first time this morning and what I heard from some guests was pure bunk (especially from Roemer and that other guy) with no correction of the facts. I was not impressed. It filled my time while waiting to go to church. Did not inform me in the least, like most other talk shows that I have ceased watching.

Yeah, Roemer was a mess. He has some good points regarding corruption in DC being our number one problem, but I think he was unfair to the president. I’ll submit that Dodd/Frank isn’t strong enough, but I disagree that it’s a bad bill because it doesn’t go far enough. I do not think the fact that the president got some money from Wall Street is the reason we couldn’t get a stronger bill.

Actually if you look at Dodd-Frank and it’s provisions in its entirety, it is strong enough. The meme that it isn’t strong enough is wrongly perpetrated by the talking heads on tv. Why Dodd-Frank might not appear “strong enough” is because republicans in the House of Reps have been blocking a lot of its provisions from seeing the light of day. They have also been defunding and trying to defund parts of the provisions that need resources so they can function. If the CFPB and its director Richard Cordray were allowed to accomplish what PBO wants them to accomplish, Dodd-Frank is a pretty darn good bill.

I’ll take your word for it. I just remember things getting dropped from it that seemed like a good idea, like the money banks were to pay to create a fund that would be used if the government were to take over a bank and wind them down. The Repubs called it a bailout.

Anyway, bottom line is that the bill is good, and even if there is more to be done, it’s unfair to argue the bill is bad.

DODD-FRANK was watered down by the GOP, DINOs and too many timid Dems looking for re-election. If it was so pro-business why is WS pumping money into the GOP? I think PBO took a bold step to try to change WS and has only gotten blow back from WS.

Yes, Chips, congratulations. Please keep it open so it can continue to grow. Wish we could turn it into a way to respond to negative comments about PBO and jobs proposals by dropping in a few bucks whenever the R’s make fools of themselves. Think of the mountain of cash we could build just reacting to McConnell and Cantor. Maybe it can have a “You talk: we win” subtitle, or something snappier. Instead of using up a lot of our psychic energy getting angry, we can donate and then communicate the donation to the offender. Two wins in one.

Is Buddy Roemer the new standard bearer candidate for the PL and Obama-haters on the left? Why is he being given almost an hour to bash when he clearly is former Dem who turned gop and I hear has made big money from big oil and big business?

are these PL people out of their minds or are they so filled with contempt and hate for PBO that their hate blinds them to reason and they will do ANYTHING to hurt him and discourage his supporters? it seems like a case of “sleeping with the enemy”.

Many in the African American community I talk to are extremely angry at the way some elite Dem have trashed and belittled PBO. Although many in the PL choose to ignore this silent anger, I believe that if it is not reversed, it may make some in the black community unresponsive to the next Dem candidate

Not only does Buddy Roemer seem to be the spokesperson for the PL, the PL are sounding an awful lot like the repugs, they are repeating the same BS. Look up thread at UT’s comment about the PL on Chris Haye’s show, these are the same talking points that the RW is using.

The PL ARE Republicans. Cenk Uygar, Dylan Ratigan, Jane Hamsher, Glenn Greenwald, Arianna Huffington… they are ALL “former” Republicans who decided to pull the wool over our eyes and pretend to be “angry progressives” to fill their wallets. The actual progressives like Chips, Milt Shook over at Please Stop the Crap, and of course us don’t give these Repubs in progressive clothing the time of day, except to call out their BS and expose them as phony. I particularly enjoyed Kenny Mack calling out Dylan Ratigan as a capitalist posing as a journalist, that’s what these PL are in the end: capitalists and corporatists. I’ve never seen ANY of the PL call out the Koch Bros, only pointing the finger at President Obama and saying he’s the corporatist/capitalist.

This is the same Ralph Nader who praised Sarah Palin, and he has fell virtually SILENT about his quest in drafting “primary challengers” against President Obama. Who is he going to suggest, Cenk Uygar? Dylan Ratigan? Heck if Nader REALLY had cojones, why doesn’t HE run against President Obama himself?

and don’t forget Markos Moulitsis… another republican Capitalizing off democrats~ I think this needs to be emphasized time and again… all these ‘leaders’ of the PL are (ex?)Republicans.. which is why we rarely ever see/hear them attack republicans- all their venom is reserved for dems & POTUS.

Biggest bluff ever imo, Huffington, DailyKos, Greenwald, Hamsher’s blog (can’t remember the name)- all their tv appearances.. all playing at being Dems & using their blogs/tv time to BASH Dems and especially the dem President.. and so many folks still falling for it all.

Oh and that Ed person on msnbc, another (ex?) republican… who – never forget invited folks NOT to vote in 2010… watch him pull this kinda bs again in 2012 – all while masquerading as the big Union supporter/Democrat.

Ever since I read the book about C Street that Rachel Maddow talked about on her show a year or two ago I have wondered if people on the right had invaded the Democratic Party so they could work to destroy it from within. Another reason is wholly to find a financial niche not occupied already by the likes of FOX and Limbaugh.

I so agree with you about the AA community being angry about the trashing of PBO. This anger is festering and building whether some liberals want to recognize it or not. It is everywhere I turn—every AA that I know feels this way and are saying after 2012 they are through. Many I know are switching to be Independents after 2012 and are so mad at some liberals the way George Clooney is mad. When I saw the strong pushback on Melissa Harris-Perry’s article about the double standard given to PBO (AKA Black Tax), I knew some are in denial. Once again the PL strategy is horrible and idiotic for the long-term, even if they have good ideas—-the GOP has been patient for 30 years for their agenda. Our side, after a few months they go ballistic. What the PL is doing will splinter the Democratic party for a generation.

That is what the pl is trying to do- break up the democratic party, so a left wing tea baggers purist- green party, can be the dominant left wing voice.
It will never happen, because independents are center right!

Thank you for that Mel. My sentament exactly; I hate it when we spend so much time, attention and energy on these hatas/grifters/disrupters so-called the “PL”. Playing with our heads indeed. Please, let’s stop validating these people and giving them all this attention/rant over! 😡

It’s not just the AA community. I’ve never been more angry in my life at the way PBO is treated and I won’t forget this in the future. There are some D’s who have stood strong with the president, namely Nancy Pelosi and even Hilary (not Bill), but he has been treated with great disrespect by too wide a swathe of people for me to forgive. I’ve told family and friends that after2012, I’m hanging up my election hat and putting away the spurs. I will never vote Republican, but the Dems are going to have to earn my vote in the future. For this year, I give only to PBO.

I agree with you, Jackie, however I figure we need to get the House and Senate firmly in the hands of the Dems for Obama in 2012. I do not think I can be as involved after 2012 either as it totally hurts to experience the lack of support our fine President is getting. I hate it too and am not an AA. I also thought if PBO did not win in 2012 maybe he could run again as people might come to their senses after a GOP candidate would ruin things, but then I thought I would not want him to have to go through this again after the GOP would repeal so much of what he accomplished in the first place. I think it was Cleveland that had two nonconsecutive terms in office.

I so agree with you and Jackie, even now I find it hard to donate to the Dem party – only want to donate to PBO. I sometimes think that in future elections, I will vote because of the blood shed by so many to get that right, but that during presidential elections I will write in President Obama’s name every time. I too think AA’s are saying that far to the contrary to what Cain is saying about being brain washed to vote for the Dems -the Dems true colors are being seen and AA’s will not be the dependable base they always take for granted . Not that AA’s will ever vote en mass for the Repubs but like I said another alternative will be sought. Some folks only got really interested in politics because of President Obama and after seeing how he has been treated – the interest is dying fast.
Not sure I am expressing what I really wanted to say very well but hope you get what I am trying to say.

I guess I know that because I too have been carping about it every time they call….and they call all the time. I’ve written Debbie Wasserman-Schultz to express similiar concerns. I can’t give up on them yet, because we need President Obama to be reelected, but we also need a supportive Congress so he can accompolish his goals.

Having said all that, I am in your camp. War has been waged against President Obama from all sides and it ranckles me….not an angry person, but the disrespect levied at him makes me furious. Without intent to be offensive or blasphemous, his treatment reminds me of Jesus Christ. But I believe we will prevail, and I like everyone here am in it to win it. I would love for him and his beautiful family to be spared from all of this bullshit and hate, but we so desperately need him, and the world needs him. Sometimes I feel so selfish. 😦

Wow!! I am amazed so many of you are expressing my feelings. I felt guilty for not feeling close to the Democratic party any more after the shenanigans and lack of support at this point in PBO’s term. I had decided it would be extremely hard to fight for someone else later after being so involved with this campaign.

Look I am long time lerker here and never post but dont ever mention Jesus Christ in comparison to Obama its hyperbolic, inexcusable and extremely offensive to me and Iam positive that Obama as a believer himself would agree with me. I get 100% were you coming from, the disrespect for this president is astonishing. The right wing has so detached itself from any governing responsibility, that it has endangered America as a whole and the drive by media has stood by picking their collective noses. They have sought to publically embarrass the president but cant understand why he doesnt react as they would with anger and irrational behavior. They fail to see that they cannot embarrass the president with their antics nor can they break his will because you cannot embarrass someone as humble and devoid of false pride as Obama. It is this fact that they dont completely understand but it scares them that is why they have gone to such unprecedented lengths to defeat and obstruct him.
He is able to do his job and keep his smile on his face against such tremendous odds because his strength resides in his faith in God. He has stayed calm and steady, he has kept his cool and reacted with clear thinking precisely because his internal core is like steel. The PL has been equally destructive if not more so, they have great contempt for him because he rose to where he is without them and will win again despite their best efforts to bring him down. They have allowed there arrogant irrational need to tell President Obama what to do, to lead them to want to see him fail as much as the right wing because he will not yield to their demands. I believe Obama is a man uniquely positioned to lead America at this time, and as long as he stays true to himself and the values he has fought for during his entire time in office he will win in the end and America will be better off because of it. Obama unlike any politician I have seen in my lifetime seems to have favor on his side. If all of us who see the many good things that this man has done, and feel as passionately about seeing him succeed and be elected again than there must be many millions more who feel the exact same way.

I did not mean to offend you, my refernece was to the way they are both villified and treated, I respect your opinion, but it does not change the way I perceive this President to be villified, and the forces of IMO evil that are waging war against him. I do not think Barack Obama is a magic man, I think he is an exceptional, highly evolded human being, the likes of which there are few of in my world view.

I hear you – I have tried as well. i told them also never to send me anything from the likes of James Carville but they continue to send stuff from him – they don’t listen and they don’t care but when they don’t have the registered voters anymore – let’s see what they will do.

Hi TOD family. I have had a busy day here in Ohio. We are working on GOTV for our Nov. 8th election to repeal SB5 the anti-collective bargaining law. So I’m just getting to the site at this time. Wow I have missed a lot. The big “rise and shine” thread had a lot of passionate post and commentary from supporters. I was amazed to find so many thinking, feeling, and saying the same things I have been saying about the current state of the Democratic Party. Like a growing sentiment of progressives I will not support the Democratic Party after PBO leaves office. I am also DONE. :angry: The disrespect I have witnessed from the CBC and other Dem congressional and Senatorial folks against the President has me totally fed up in supporting the Dem party after 2012. I will officially become an Independent unless I see some quick change.

This PARTY supposedly champions diversity, but is too afraid and apathetic to support their first African American President. The hyporcricy is mindboggling. Not to mention all the PL in sheeps clothing who are really Rethugs talking non stop trash on all the news shows. It is disgusting. This topsy tervy and TOXIC political environment is all based on a very successful, brilliant, charismatic, and determined black man being in the Whitehouse. That is what it all boils down to……FEAR and PARANOIA of what another successful four years will bring. The Democratic Party has such a golden opportunity to gain back the House and retain the Senate and if the Democrats don’t mobilize and get their act together we will give PBO another 2 years of inefectiveness to work with for 2012 thru 2014. Then only two years will be left. He would have to get a lot done if the House and Senate were able to be turned toward the end of his second term. We have to turn Capitol Hill BLUE NOW. Im done after this folks. I love our agenda, platforms, issues, goals, etc. but PBO is the only FACE that is actually articulating these initiatives to the American People. It is so exasperating. Im all IN for 2012 and beyond that……………………..KEEP HOPE ALIVE!! Obama/Biden 2012!!

Just yesterday we had dinner with a couple of AA’s as myself, and they said that after 2012 they are leaving the democratic party and are going Independent, my son who’s thirty-two has also said he’s going Independent.

As in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s when you seen a mass exodus of AA from the republican party, I see the same thing happening after 2012, with AA going Independent.

I switched from Dem to Ind after the election because of how some our “leaders” in the Dem party acted towards the Pres. during the primaries and general. Of course, I’ll be voting for the Pres. in 2012. If the Dems don’t straighten up, it’s quite possible that we could really see a credible, viable third party candidate in the next 10 years because people the Repubs have already lost their way and the Dems aren’t too far behind.

My only problem with going Independent is you don’t get to vote for anything other than measures and nonpartisan positions in the primaries in my state. I had taken around a petition to get open primaries years ago and that drive went no where. In the 2008 primary if I had been an Independent I would not have been able to vote for BO and I felt his primary against Hillary was his toughest fight and was essential for him to win.

My son is 22 and an ardent Obama supporter – he is registered here in Maryland as an Independent ( can’t vote for PBO in primary but PBO will win our state hands down especially with no primary challenger) he tells me passionately that he is NOT a progressive – does not want to be called that – the Professional Left have turned him off big time! Not only are Dems losing AA’s they are losing young people as well.

I watched Mrs Clinton on ABC this am and she was very good in fact excellent , and Mccain was on as well
and the poor looser keeps spreding crap that the French and the British lead not the USA, he is a poor
fricking looser and will say any shit to undermaind PBO. The GOP and the MSM seems that they want a
push foe Iran. it’s very cripy and scary. PBO has out smart out played and outwit on everything The american
people are bigining to pay attention.

Sue yes a lot’s of manure coming out of MaSane mouth he is realy pathetic. and he is in JORDAN spreding his
B.S undrmainding our MILITARY and COUNTRY when he keeps saying that the French and British lead NOT the
USA he is a prick sorry.
Hilary was excelent on MTP so the GOP have nothing against PBO on Foreign Policy. The GOP have no fricking
clue how complex this world is!!!

My biggest issue is with media enablers of McCain! Does any one remember Al Gore, or John Kerry being trotted out, practically every Sunday, to bash President Bush? The media is really determined to miss-educate the people in the hopes that they would turn against President Obama.

Sen. McCain has a mean spirit about his core that is so disruptive to this nation during this Presidency. It is shameful that a man of his stature in his life can still carry around within his soul this ugly factor which will destroy his inner self.

You would think that with his blessings, he would move on and try to use some of his power, and wealth to make this a better nation for so many who just need an encouraging word and a little help. But he chooses to continue to be a mean spirit, who continues to be an Obama basher in his words and actions.

I pray for his soul, reallly. I pray that he will be enlightened to be a better person, especially when his chronological timer is ticking away. Why waste the time while in a powerful position ? But he chooses daily to put down a beautiful spirit like POB, when McCain could join with the President and make his legacy as a Senator, a good and decent one. It is sad to be a fool, but an old fool is even more sad. HZ

If you are, you are in good company. I got a box full of newspapers from the day he won, magazines, books, etc. One time an issue with Pres. Obama on the cover arrived a little torn. I contacted the company and told them to send me a duplicate because the other was badly damaged. Got it in one week, put it away and read the torn one instead.

I have lots of books, a few bumper sticker. But every photo that comes from his BarackObama.com is treated like a precious family photograph. Anyone entering our home clearly gets the message that we are big supporters (love) President Obama and family.And if they don’t like it, I am happy to show them the door……no trash talking PBO allowed in our house.

Sue, that sounds familiar! My house is full of President Obama memorabelia – my study is decorated with Obama posters, clock, books etc
I have every newspaper article since he was elected and some from the campaign. I am also of the same mind that if anyone doesn’t approve of my love and support of your wonderful first family then they don’t have to stay in my home. Luckily my husband and son LOVE President Obama too.

Same here Sam Uk Obama Supporter, Sue, Jackie, Gobrooklyn,hopefruit2, desertflower, Jackie 4 Obama, and all of my beloved TOD family members here, we have so gems to share and leave for our younger family members.

I think, for me, all of these will be products of our experiences with a time in history that we were all active participants in some way or another. That is such a beautiful thing to be a part of in our lifetime.

I also write some little notes on certain items for my great nieces to read, especially my books, magazines, and articles. Also, I do not hide my love and support for President Obama, so I make it clear that I am a very very strong Obama person, and if my friends do not feel comfortable in my home, I make sure that I will not tolerate the negative energy in my home, so feel free to not come back. Some have even chosen not to. That is fine with me, because my home is my sanctuary, and I will not allow anyone to violate that space.

Oh yessssssssssss, I have a little Obama Libray going on, plus I have photos, wall posters that I framed, and Is hanging on my wall Fake money bills with his picture on It, buttons, magazines, books, newspapers, Yep, I’m an Obamabot, Look this Is History, and I’m, or we’re living In History, while In the making. We all do these things, keeping memoirs of our First Family, because not only Is he the first AA President, and First Family, but they are brilliant, smart, Kind, Friendly, Warm and Caring, Serious, and Sincere, Hard Working, just GREAT People. There’s no shame In my game here, I love me some Obamas. I even love their Dog, BO, Yes I do 🙂 🙂

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mounted a strong defense of her formal rival’s foreign policy on Sunday, describing President Barack Obama as showing “smart leadership in a complex world.”

“What we’ve seen from President Obama over the last two-and-half years and, remarkably, with the events of the last six months is that his kind of smart leadership in a complex world is paying off,” Clinton said on “Fox News Sunday”. “He was the one who brought [Osama] bin Laden finally down. He was the one who put together a coalition that eventually removed [Muammar] Qadhafi. So I think it’s important that in this very complex, dangerous world that we have someone in the White House who understands America has to lead. But we have to look at every situation and make the right decision.”

“You can’t on the one hand say you’re all for democracy and sovereignty and independence where people get to make their own choices, and on the other hand say that when a choice is made that is foreseen by our own government going back to the Bush administration and validated by the Obama administration and the current government in Iraq, that that somehow is not appropriate,” she said. “Because that is what we were there for, to give the Iraqi people the chance to make their own decision.”
You don’t have go to politico.That’s the whole piece.

amk…great article…however, if you read my comment below…I have an issue with another story there…would appreciate some pushback from all of you to correct this guys “divorced from reality” wishes! Thanks.

I’ve noticed that certain news outlets and liberals are doing their best to spin Obama’s donor numbers as hard as possible. The article talks about the donors that the left has come to hate like Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America YET don’t mention that the largest contributor so far, according to opensecrets.org is Microsoft. The article talks about his bundlers that work at these banks but fail to mention that there are other industries who have bundled just as much if not more than the ones mentioned. Its all right there on opensecrets.org. For all to see. So despite Pres. Obama’s actual policies and his rhetoric, the left, along with the MSM, are deliberately trying to paint him as Wall Street’s guy or “not on our side”.

I’m trying to give Van Jones the benefit of the doubt but when he retweets shit like this I have to wonder if 1. He’s a liar 2.Stupid or 3. Not the person I thought he was and his inner purity troll is coming out.

I called out Keith Olbermann on this meme a few days ago and I sent a several replies to the author of this article AND Van Jones.

I knew when Van Jones teamed up with Move-On that there was a problem, He should be out there telling people to register to vote and screaming about voter suppression laws, instead he has joined Grover Norquist lover Jane Hampster. This is just pathetic.

Shoq Shoq Value
As @vanjones68 pointed out to me y’day, in just weeks, #OWS has totally flipped the narrative from “austerity” to “inequality.”

It is completely false because first of all, they have no freaking message….they are angry at capitalism, Wall Street or whatever.

It’s President Obama who changed the narrative, not #OWS

After the election in 2010 and the horrible debt ceiling travesty, what was the narrative of the GOP/teabaggers and media, ”We’re broke, we can’t afford it, we can’t afford the out of control spending, bla bla bla”.

So President Obama called their bluff and wanted to go BIG…..you want cuts? How about 4 trillions or whatever number was out there.

What did the cowards do? They back away….oh they didn’t want that because it would have meant rising taxes on millionaires and billionnaires.

It’s the GOP who lost the narrative at that point and President Obama just continued to talk about jobs…he never stopped talking about jobs…but he took away a lot from the GOP with his move. Lets go big….they refused.

And now with the President’s bill….they look even more pathetic than before, they are losing a lot of ground…..regardless of what the PL say or corrupt media.

So Van Jones is in dreamland if he thinks the movement with no message changed the narrative. President Obama did

An excellent flashback from earlier in the month: Dylan Ratigan And Ed Schultz Get Heated Over Jobs On MSNBC 10-6-2011

As much as Ed Schultz has PISSED ME OFF with his anti Obama rants, I am so glad he called out phony boy Ratigan for wanting a magic bullet and complaining that the President’s plan didn’t go far enough.

A new regulation proposed this week by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) would prohibit all federal government employees from accepting any gifts from lobbyists.

Originally, the absolute ban on lobbyist gifts was only applied to political appointees, per President Obama’s executive order on ethics that was signed early on in his administration. But if the proposed rule is finalized, it would expand the order’s tough restrictions on lobbyist gifts to career employees in the federal government as well.

The regulation also would codify the stringent lobbyist gift ban implemented by Obama’s executive order, meaning the strict limits on the interaction between lobbyists and the Obama administration would stay in place after Obama leaves the White House, unless Congress repeals them or the next president initiates another rule-making procedure to amend the regulation.

Tweet him he does repsond they are eating him up. They are also going after van jones. @chrislhayes Christopher Hayes
@Shoq @truthrose1 I think there were a few spots, where I could have interjected a bit more forcefully w/ Roemer.
37 minutes ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply

Hey Everyone do we have any good researchers here, cause looky looky what I found.
What is done in the dark shall be brought into the light. We need to dig further.
Check this out and tell me our suspensions are founded.

The only person I’ve seen push back against Roemer’s schtick somewhat is Lawrence. Buddy is a fraud and at least Lawrence pointed out that it was Buddy’s party that had come out against OWS and it was the Democratic party that had at least crafted the legislative financial reforms (e.g. Dodd-Frank) that the GOP was trying to dismantle.

But even Lawrence let him slide on a few things — I think it’s the nature of the format of these shows, and the fact that they keep having on these so-called “experts” that they recycle over and over again instead of talking to real people going through real things. They act so deferential to these clowns just to show that they’re “fair” — look at me, ma — I had a republican on my show and called him “sir” — see, I’m so open-minded! Meanwhile, they trash the President for attempting to work in a bipartisan fashion 🙄 .

That’s why I don’t get too worked up behind these pundit shows: it’s simply current-events entertainment. These people have to fill the airwaves for 24 hours — it’s bound to be sloppy and loose and regurgitated when that’s the model.

Love those quotes by Hillary! She has really surpassed all my expectations. I don’t think she’s ever said as complimentary things about her own husband as she says about PBO. 😆 j/k…..sorta 😆 Once she’s pointed in the right direction, she’s a hell of a team player. I wonder what her next act will be?

Could be. I get the feeling Hillary always wanted to be the first woman to do something, and she wouldn’t be the groundbreaker as a SC justice, but she would do a great job at it, for sure. Lawd knows we need PBO to be in charge when any justices need replacing…

I would appreciate it if you all would join me in a little push back on this site….regarding what Dylan Ratigan said about the President NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT WALL ST…this guy says that PBO shouldn’t be trusted until he fires Geitner and listens to OWS…wants him to but someone in Geitner’s place that will be kicking ass against these crooks(which they are). I simply said that that was a nice thought…bit how was he going to get that person through the nomination process??!!!
HELP! This kind of verbal vomit / pie in the sky/divorced from reality thought can’t go on! Thanks.http://dangerousintersection.org/2011/10/20/dylan-ratigan-to-barack-obama-fire-timothy-geithner/comment-page-1/#comment-92689

I think challenging them on how their ‘perfect’ nominee would get through the Senate is perfectly adequate, Desertflower. As far as the goal of ‘stopping’ this nonsense; there is no way to stop it. There is only the way of providing sane and reasonable pushback for the other readers of a comment section. Remember the message is for the audience, not the authors. You’re doing great.

I’m pretty fed up with the vilification of Geitner. The man has never worked for Goldman Sacks, he’s always been in public service. I’ve watched him on numerous occasions, testifying before Congress, interacting in round tables. The man is trying his best. No he hasn’t destroyed the big bad banks but is it because he’s in cahoots with them or simply because he doesn’t want the american economy and the global economy to crash and he doesn’t want MILLIONS of lives destroyed???!!!

If there is a genius who knows how to destroy the power of Wall Street RAPIDLY ( instead of incrementally) WHITHOUT creating chaos, without wiping out the saving of millions (401ks anyone?) , without putting millions and millions of people out of work, and destroying millions of lives all around the world, well let’s hear it. Until then, stop calling the Secretary of Treasury the devil incarnate.

Gosh I’m so fed up with the oversimplification of the ideologs. I share their frustration and their objectives of change but I get so tired of their short-sided condemnations.

Hey Everyone do we have any good researchers here, cause looky looky what I found.
What is done in the dark shall be brought into the light. We need to dig further.
Check this out and tell me our suspensions are founded.

Having just watched the West Coast feed of MTP, I am very pleased with SoS Hiliary Clinton. She held her own with (yuck) David Gregory and gave high praise and clear answers to his snarky questions. I turned before RP came on. Couldn’t stand any more.

Silicon Valley is lining up behind President Obama’s reelection bid, donating more money to his campaign than to any of his Republican rivals.

Computer and Internet companies have donated more than $1.2 million to Obama’s 2012 campaign so far, among the highest totals for any industry, according to an analysis of campaign finance data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Microsoft employees are Obama’s single biggest industry contributor, followed by employees of Comcast. Google comes in at No. 4.

Silicon Valley seems to be sticking with the president after backing him strongly in 2008. The tech industry donated at least $9.3 million to Obama’s first presidential bid, according to the Center’s data.

GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney has received $375,000 from the tech world. The top contributors to Romney’s campaign come from financial sector firms such as Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse Group and Morgan Stanley; Microsoft, Comcast and Google do not crack the top 20 of Romney’s list of contributors.

well smart people who believe in science and technology innovation as an engine of growth and democracy channel will stick with President Obama who believes in science, funding research and promoting innovation

I’m still skeptical about the Senate, seeing as many red state Democrats are up for re election. I believe Democrats will win the House back seeing as the Teabag majority haven’t done a thing BUT anger the electorate.

So now Rick Perry is joining the birther movement? He had dinner with Donald Trump who according to Perry still happens to think that the President’s birth certificate is not real…therefore Perry is going to be on the fence about our President’s place of birth based on his dinner conversation with Donald.

I sent him a tweet tying his “Niggerhead” hunting lodge to his desire to go birther now and told him it is a HUGE mistake. Hope he gets the connection. Going birther just might revive the “Niggerhead” issue. If it does, he’ll be more embarrassed by it this time than he was the first time.

That’s quite possible df! But Ms. Bachman has bigger fish to fry than concern herself with Libbya – her entire campaign staff in NH quit with one of them joining Perry’s campaign. That’s where her focus should be.

Her focus should be getting out of a race she is woefully unqualified for and getting back to her real job….she has missed NUMEROUS votes in congress….not that THOSE would help her constituents one iota, but they DID put her there!

Oh, so we never do anything unless there is a direct interest to us like taking their oil and then only if we know the devil we might have to deal with is better than the devil we are already dealing with?

Oh, Lord. This women had better not travel to the Middle East any time soon. At a time when millions of Lybians are celebrating the death of a vicious dictator, she wants him back. The is cluelessness to the nth power.

One quick answer to all those concerned about people who work on Wall Street donating to PBO: New York is a strong Democratic state and it is not unusual for Dems (some onf whom happen to work in the financial district) to donate to a Democratic candidate.

Can someone tell me if the proportions of money donated to PBO are any differenrt from that given to Dem candidates in previous elections?

this argument falls in the same crap heap as that of African Americans supporting PBO JUST BECAUSE he is black. What is the previous record of black people and their support for Dems ever since the civil rights movement?

That is an excellent point. John Kerry (and I’m sure Bill Clinton and Al Gore) for instance I believe got lots of donations from Wall Street. Both Chuck Schumer and progressive “hero” Gillibrand receive donations from Wall Street.

President Obama raised more money from EVERY SECTOR in GENERAL because his grassroots campaign and fundraising efforts are superior. He raised money from unions, health care workers, educators, colleges/universities, even students…yet no one seems to be griping about his excellent fundraising from those in the public sector. They are simply using the Wall Street thing to disingenuously target him.

And as unpopular as my theory may be, I sincerely believe that at the core of this new found gripe about politics and Wall Street lies a racial resentment that a Black President appears to have benefited from something once thought to be exclusively the domain of White politicians.

But it is McConnell job to protect and look after the rich. To hell with the middle class and poor. America better wake up and realize who is on their side and who don’t give a dam about them. You hear where President Obama sometimes send checks to help those people who write him, who are really struggling. Then you hear that lousy ugly SOB Mitch McConnell say that it’s not his job to prevent firefighters and policemen, and teachers from being laid off . What a nasty man.

I bow my head in shame. We tried so hard in 2008 to unseat this dumbass but the Blue dog Dem Bruce Lunsford only made it to 46% of the vote. It was disappointing, but turtle has bought off key Kentucky constituencies with loads of pork, including my university where I teach.

zizi….hold your head high! You worked as hard as you could….you can lead a horse to water….You may want to post a LTE….and point out the idiocy of this man to the public. A “truth campaign” as it were:) I wonder if anyone has buyer’s remorse? Wonder what the unemployment rate is in KY? Wonder if Mr. McConnell would like to be the first in line to have to wait a long time for a policeman, or fireman to come to HIS HOUSE? The people deserve better.

There’s a big difference when you retweet something said or done by any of the clowns on the far right and tweeting about an article with a link to the vile Jane Hamsher’s website regarding the movement that you endorse.

Maybe you could tweet him and tell him you neither support nor trust Hamsher/Greenwald, reject the damage they inflict to Democratic/Progressive goals, and challenge his allegiance to them. Not a tweeter, shouldn’t be telling anyone what to tweet 😯

In 2000, we had folk like Mike Moore, Cornell West & others spouting the meme of Bush=Gore in their support for Nader. The results are incalculably horrible in terms of deaths of Iraqis & Americans, destruction of our ecosystem, our American economy and more.

These same folk, joined by others all known to you, are attempting another scam on the American people using entirely self-serving (as in $$$$) anti-Obama and anti-Democratic rhetoric.

The differences between Gore and Bush were vast, but folk like Mike, Cornell, Nader and others of their ilk obscured those differences.

We must not allow these people any oxygen, any credibility.

We must call them out – using media like Twitter – and confront them in any way possible. And, we must educate those around them that donating to their “PAC,” or whatever, is money they might as well have deposited in the Koch Brothers checking account because the outcome will be the same.

We also must bring as many low income, very afraid, typically white Americans to realize that they may enjoy 18th Century hats and Tea Party slogans, but they are actually enslaved to the KOCHMAFIA and by voting for any Republican they are guaranteeing that they will lose Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, collective bargaining, access to quality education for their children and grandchildren, and a perpetual life of fear.

You have provided us with so much substance and as bright a line of difference between yourself and the Republicans as we could have ever hoped to have.

But, it is now necessary for you to direct those on your staff to persist in a pervasive voter education and motivation campaign the likes of which has never been seen in America.

We must return you to the White House and establish strong Democratic majorities in the House and Senate – and at every level of State and local government elect individuals committed to building America for the 99%, not the 1%.

We understand what must be done. We need those close to you who have the resources to be crystal clear that anyone trying to equate you with any Republican is doing enormous damage to our Republic.

I wish we’d have a 70% turnout here in America! I wish we’d get a supermajority in House and Senate and re-elect PBO with those votes but we’ve come to take our democracy for granted, and now we are close to losing it, thanks to Citizens United and the GOP, and the media.

Me too. I wish more citizens would take voting seriously. When one sits at home, it has lasting and oftentimes detrimental consequences as evidenced by the teabaggers in congress who would rather destroy the country due to their hate of President Obama.

Yesterday I took my 10 yr. old grandson to see Blue Man Group in Portland, then walked to the Occupy Portland camp. They are offering free food, shelter, and medical care to everyone. The result — many homeless have taken up residence. God bless em’ all. We know that many people end up on the street as a result of mental illness. Those folks were there in force. Throw away kids who end up on the street are there too. People brought down by addiction are also well represented. We had good discussions with young people who are trying to balance the needs of the homeless with the message of Occupy Wall Street. Along with the free food, organizers have started around the clock safety patrols. It’s quite a mix. I talked to a young man about registering people to vote. He said that people come through every day to register voters. Today I am making a sign to post in my front yard reminding people to register to vote–that will be one small thing I can do.

Auni thanks for your observation on OW…and thank you so much for all you do, small or big every little bit helps:-)

If I may here’s my take on OW. I don’t understand that lots of folks in OW are capitalizing on these events..Such as Jane Hamsher, by providing a link to her webisete and asking for cash, here’s and example:

The #OccupySupply Fund:
Help Get Supplies to the Occupy Demonstrators

I’ve seen Van Jones promoting her site..Michael Moore, Cornell West, Tavis, Cenk….and many more.
My frustration with this movement comes when our President has been fighting for the same cause since He took office, I have yet to hear anyone promote his job bill, he’s been traveling all over this country, pleading for people to call and pass the Job Act Bill so that these poor folks you saw can get a job, decent health care, caring for the homeless.

Don’t get me wrong while I appreciate their efforts..Isn’t that what PBO is trying to do?? So why not promote PBO’s agenda, since he’s always been for 99%…It’s really that simple, It’s almost like this President is speaking a different language….As I repeatedly asked Mr. Jones, that the AJA has everything that the American Job and much more… for folks that are struggling, including finding work for soldiers returning from war. If, or when OW is behind in what our President is trying accomplish against the Obstruction of Republicans and Occupy Congress help pass AJA right away ,is the day OW will have my full support, until then OW doesn’t have an ounce of credibility, here’s the reason why:

1. No clear goals of what they want and misplaced anger.
2. The fact that they say they “We not taking Political sides” Yet they keep bashing PBO
3. Leader of this movement keep giving mix message and not focused on anything except Wall Street.
4. None of the leader took initiative to fight when Debt Celing/HealthCare/FinancialReform, they waited until OW was formed.
5. Timing, just as when PBO presented the AJA, and asked for the public’s help, OW was formed..Coincidence?
6. The fact that they completely ignore the President message not calling on congress that blocked AJA that prevents the unemployed from getting a job, and put food on the table.. speaks volume.

IMO, they should be thanking this President for passing the biggest financial reform since the great depression, or things could be a lot worst. This President wanted Elizabeth Warren to oversee Wall Street Reform, The Republicans blocked everything, what OW is fighting and demonstrating today. They should be thanking this President for major legislative bills passed in centuries. I hope that one day soon realize who their enemy is.

In Oregon we vote with mail-in ballots that arrive in the mail. Something I have not thought of before is how do the homeless get their ballots? Are they still allowed to vote as I would think and how does that work?

YES, people who are homeless can vote. People who do not have a home should use the address where they spend the greatest amount of their time as their Oregon residence address. For example, “at the corner of Burnside and 2nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon” is acceptable. If the person has a place where he or she picks up mail, that should be the mailing address. If a person does not have a place to pick up mail, he or she can use the county clerk’s office as the mailing address. He or she will have to go there to pick up a ballot there when the ballots go out.http://www.safetyandjustice.org/review-status/page/1204

I know people here said that federal office holders (such as the senators) could not be recalled by voters before they have served their 6 years. I do not dispute this assertion.

But is this one of those things written in the constitution and cannot be changed except by a constitutional amendement by a majority of states?

If not then there is always a first time. NOW would be a good time.

we also happen to support a candidate who always tell us that when people tell us we can’t we just answer that Yes We Can .. One voice can change a room, .. a country.

Of course I am frustrated as I look at these teabagger clowns who won in swing states in 2010 and are now showing their true radical colors by voting against ALL jobs bils although they run on jobs, jobs, jobs.

I believe that if there was a time to attempt this then now is that time.

the same could be applied to those senators who think they cannot loose their seat next year simply because their 6 year term is not over.

can you imagine what a source of current and future discpline this would be if successful? it would be a major reform to a broken system.

If a referendum to recall needs to go on the state ballot first (or simultaneously) then a vote for recall follows. I believe that given the overall anger of people at this do-nothing legislature would be supported. threats of a recall would also go a long way in getting their attention.

I know that many things that look impossible at the start can end up as the new reality.

I am going to do a follow up with some people who are well versed with election laws and constitutional matters about the feasibility

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/10/23/350915/alabama-hispanic-schoolchildren-bullying/ My heart aches. The same thing is going on in AZ…though to my knowledge these children are not kept out of school….not for the lack of trying.I also read on Raw Story that Nevada latinos were only lukewarm to voting for PBO again…don’t know how much of that is just typical bs spin….but the Latino community had better be FULLY AWARE of what Republicans would do should they get in charge! Let there be NO MISTAKE…in their minds, if you are brown, you must not belong here.End.Of.Conversation. If you want to deal realistically with the need for real immigration reform, understand that it SHOULD NOT include anything that consists of moats, alligators,odious laws like AL or AZ’s even mentioned as somewhat serious thoughts….I certainly hope that when PBO goes to NV that he makes his intentions and thoughts on this PERFECTLY CLEAR!

That is sort of explained by the recent census data released showing an increase of Latinos identifying as white, and whites are welcoming this as it adds to that predicted dwindling of the numbers of caucasians in the country, compared with the increase of people of color, with the Latino population the fastest growing. It’s all about numbers and inclusion for some folk. Hopefully, most Latinos are onto the games played by those who would use them only for political purposes.

Thanks, EDP. I read that piece and the link to the other piece and it doesn’t make any sense. I’m still not understanding the methodology. Strange. Wish I could remember exactly what the census form looked like.

You’re going to see a LOT of stories this week about PBO losing the Latino community because he’s got a big Latino fundraiser in LA and he’s going to Nevada and Denver where there are large Latino populations. For the most part, these stories are pure right-wing spin. Nevada has I think the highest percentage of foreclosures, so there is a lot of cynicism about politics, no doubt, but it’s directed at everybody in DC. Once the GOP challenger is known, this race will become quite clear to people and I don’t for a minute believe Latinos are going to vote for the GOP. You will see an all out effort by OFA to do a lot of outreach to these communities. I know we will succeed.

I just finished watching HardTalk on BBC, with anchor Stephen Sackur interviewing Mahmoud Jibril(Libya’s interim PM). It felt like being in a different world…why can’t our journalists conduct interviews in the same firm, knowledgeable but respectful manner?

I just watched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being interviewed on Meet The Press. She was absolutely amazing. That was such a powerful endorsement of President Obama’s leadership at the end. It must have made David Gregory very uncomfortable.

didn’t want to work for me today, and didn’t feel like waiting for it all to link up…don’t worry, they will come again and that’s EXACTLY what I will do:) I get so much trash in my inbox…I really need to do some house cleaning there!

He dropped a self-promoting diary at Old Orange. The usual anti-Obama folks are defending him after eclectablog called out his hypocrisy and absence from the Michigan activities in light of the GOP abuses going on there.

The GOP’s strange platform: ignore the first responders, cut off student loans

If it’s Sunday, it’s another day for strange goings on in the Republican Party, which is hardening into a wizened rump party that stands for booing soldiers, cheering the imminent death of the uninsured, defending Wall Street and the rich, and giving the old “screw you” to cops, teachers and fire fighters. Oh, and suddenly, they’re anti-war.

Welcome to Alice in Wonderland world….this is only happening with such frequency now( read EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY) because these wackos are all trying to our crazy each other…once a nominee is chosen, then we can get to the REAL business. I can hardly wait. They ain’t got shit, and they know it. They need to be afraid. Be very afraid!

And the MSM is right in there with them. We should Occupy NBC/CBS/CNN/ABC/PBS and FOX and let them know we won’t stand for the bad reporting ANYMORE. We should also not watch ANY of them and let our numbers drop the shows to insignificance.

“Where were these young white MBA’s and laid off corporate workers when black Americans were losing their homes and jobs at unprecedented rates during the early days of the recession,” asked Lewis.

“Where were those protesters as Tea Party conservatives took over Congress, blocked the president’s historic healthcare overhaul law, smashed his job creation efforts, trashed his landmark stimulus initiative, and undermined his efforts to reign in big banks,” said Mayes.

“Instead of fighting the demons on Wall Street they put on their earbuds and turned their wrath on the president call ing him an absentee leader. What gives,” said Mayes. “This appears to be more about their pain than America’s pain.”

“Their working class parents have had their homes foreclosed. Their school loans can’t be paid because they too now are unemployed or underpaid. Their stocks and 401K’s have been eviscerated by the 1%.

Their middle class status is slipping away,” said Rubinson.

“Their stark reality has gotten closer to what black people have been battling for years.”

As I wrote up thread in my response to Globalcitizen, I’m starting to see more AA’s saying that after 2012 that they’re going Independent, including my thirty-two year old son.

These attacks on the president by mainly white PLs have not gone unnoticed in the Black community. It’s becoming clear that this may become the era where the far left of the democratic party caused an exodus of AA ‘s, as it were when the far right of the republican party caused an exodus of AA’s.

I’VE BEEN WONDERING THE SAME THING…WHY NOW???? WHY CREATE CHAOS WITH THIS PRESIDENT?????
YEAH RIGHT!!!!!
FOLKS STOOD BY WITH THEIR HANDS IN POCKETS FOR 8 WHOLE YRS…..SAID NOTHING….THIS IS REALLY B.S. IN MY OPINION!!!!!

I read through the entire blog before saying what I wanted to incase there was already a topic to match what I am going to say. I went to Ireland last year at the same time the volcano in Iceland interfered so badly with the airports. It was my first trip to Ireland and I have both the names Boyles and McCarthy in my family of birth so have Irish descent along with my Native American descent. Actually, I discovered that my great grandfather who came from Ireland came over to join the Army and fight Indians. Talk about inner conflict!!! lol My grandfather on my Dad’s side has the Irishman relative and the grandmother on my Dad’s side has the Native American on her side.

The Irish people were so friendly and proAmerican. They were very proud of their connections to America and there are more Irish in America than in Ireland.

The clip you showed brought back the pleasant memories I experienced when PBO went to Ireland. I remember being on pins and needles as to whether the Obamas were going to get in to Moneygall or not as it was dependent on the weather. I knew how important it was to the village and read about how they painted all their shops to greet him. I was thrilled when it worked out and felt close to the situation as I had just been there myself.

This clip brought tears of happiness and good memories to me. Thanks so much for posting it today!

What’s with the woman with the little sign in the background complaining about Congress/Obama Administration and a covert operation with the NYPD? The guy blowing cigarette smoke at the camera? Seemed to me like there were more media and media whores and people selling stuff than actual protesters. Looked more like a party. Not sure that’s the video to show people in hopes of gaining support.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) — When Moody’s downgraded three banks on Wednesday, it gave a big thumbs up to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reforms that aim to ensure there won’t be any more big bank bailouts.
Moody’s made clear it believes that the U.S. government is less likely to step in to save a troubled bank, and downgraded Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500), Wells Fargo (WFC, Fortune 500) and Citigroup (C, Fortune 500).
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“It is more likely now than during the financial crisis to allow a large bank to fail should it become financially troubled, as the risks of contagion become less acute,” Moody’s wrote in its downgrade note of Wells Fargo’s stock.
That rationale for the downgrade is music to the ears of leaders who staked their political careers on the Dodd-Frank Act and promised it would end the era of “too big to fail.”

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential contender Ron Paul said Sunday he wants to end federal student loans, calling it a failed program that has put students $1 trillion in debt when there are no jobs and when the quality of education has deteriorated.

Paul unveiled a plan last week to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget that would eliminate five Cabinet departments, including education. He’s also wants young workers to be able to opt out of Social Security.

The student loan program is not part of those cuts, but Paul said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he’d kill the loan program eventually if he were president. That could put him at odds with some of his young followers, many of whom are college students.

Paul blamed government intervention in the economy for rising tuition.

“Just think of all this willingness to want to help every student get a college education,” said Paul, who graduated from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania before earning a medical degree at the Duke University School of Medicine. “I went to school when we had none of those. I could work my way through college and medical school because it wasn’t so expensive.”

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This is who a lot of the kids on OWS likes! Mr Paul! Even Madcow mentioned ron Paul twice on bill maher, saying he wants out of all wars!
Unreal. The uninformed are ruling our politics!

Exactly. Because sitting around smoking dope all day is WAY better than a college education! Seriously? He totally just made the case WHY everyone that has the drive and aspirations to go to college…SHOULD! Hey guys! No education, no job, NO DOPE! First things first!

Well, they latched onto one thing he wants, and will disregard the rest…they better wake up because though he says he didn’t need student loans when HE went to college…back then tuition was probably $1000/year! The fact that PBO changed the way Federal Student loans work, BECAUSE OF HIM cutting out the middle man(BANKS)…never entered the conversation, I bet.

I wish the same thing would happen with Cox Cable, my provider. I’d love it if Fox was not around, even if I would miss So You think you Can Dance, and Bones, my 2 favorite shows, if it meant Hannity, O’Reilley and Gretchen Carlson would be off my TV forever.

John McCain is neither the president or the Secretary of State and has no authority to talk publicly about military action. He’s as bad as Palin using her big mouth to stir up trouble between South and North Korea. McCain needs to shut up and sit down. None of the conditions that made the effort in Lybia possible pertain to Syria. We are not being invited to intervene by other Arab states. We haven’t been asked by the people. McCain is too ill-informed to know this and is spouting off in potentially dangerous ways. And why is anybody asking him in the first place? He’s a two-bit, dried out, ineffective senator from a southern state whose time in the sun has long since been over.

Moreover, there is NO appetite for more wars in this country. Americans want the focus on the US–creating jobs, strengthening the economy, rebuilding infrastructure. In their efforts to cause trouble and embarrass the president, McCain and his ilk are sounding flat-out tone deaf. Not only are they seriously out of synch with the country ,they are very close to being traitorous.

Tien Le–thank you for the information on how the homeless can vote. I was sure wondering about that. Getting out the vote is the only thing that can save us. I just discovered the book/blog The Strange Death of Liberal America by Ralph Braver. Kept me awake last night. Has it been discussed here before? Thye idea that the right thinks politics, religion, and business are tied up together is frightening. They do think that, and it is hard to fight. Good Lord–that scares me.

It took me a little bit of time. Had to find the credit union, then make sure all of the bills I have automatically debiting to the account were changed over, then changing my direct deposit for my work paycheck…it was a pain, but glad I did it.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Saudi Arabia to pay condolences to the royal family on the death of Crown Prince Sultan, the White House said on Sunday.

During a telephone call, President Barack Obama told Saudi King Abdullah of the plans for Biden to make the visit.

Obama expressed his own condolences to the king during the call, according to a White House statement.

“The president praised Crown Prince Sultan’s many contributions over the past five decades, including his critical role in building the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” it said.

Has anyone heard of the movie, “the Politics of Love?” LOL. It’s about a woman who works for the Obama campaign and meets someone who’s working on the McCain campaign. I think it’s a parody or some kind of comedy. It has Obama volunteers looking overly enthusiastic, though, so I’m thinking it’s a parody. Either way…so far, so stupid.

OMG…I just had to turn when the Obama supporter did some kind of sexy car wash for the McCain supporter she’s about to get with. One of those moments where I was embarrassed for the person doing the acting because she looked so ridiculous.

Was just going to reference this story too—-that finally someone in the MSM—–it’s the LA Times, surprisingly—-has dared to mention that the constant and total Repub obstruction has harmed Obama domestically and noting the successes he has had in foreign policy when he doesn’t have to deal with them.

I do not know if someone has already shared this: CNN just aired an interview from a Ugandan lady who was a victim of the LRA and has made a video calling out the idiot rush and his ill-informed comments against PBO’s decision to send a a group of Americans to go after LRA’s leader and put a stop to their activities in Uganda, Congo, Sudan and other neighboring countries